Last week I wrote a post about discount blasters at Target. Early last week I picked up a Series 1 2008 Topps Blaster (5 packs) for $5. On Friday, I decided to see if they had any more, and surely they had one left. I bought it and in the first pack I pulled this dandy of a card, 2008 Topps Gold Border, serial numbered /2008.

I knew I needed the card for my Sox collection, but it made me stop and think about the 2008 season, particularly about Manny and Youk. As you can see here, they are pictured slapping high fives, probably after a Manny bomb. But the only slapping these two were involved in on June 5, 2008, was during their fightdebate in the dugout. (MLB.com article, note the term “debate” in the headline.)

I also was thinking about Manny earlier this week when I watched the Red Sox live in Oakland as they got their teeth kicked in by the Oakland A’s. The team simply isn’t the same without Manny. I stick up for Jason Bay whenever I hear people badmouth the guy — he’s kinda got that wuss look about him, hence he does not look like a player to worry about — because he’s a hell of a player. But without Manny, the Sox lineup does not scare people the same as it had — even with Dustin Pedroia and Youkilis having awesome ’08 seasons. I still enjoy watching my team, but I miss Manny’s presence in the Red Sox lineup.